tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10818260071615988362017-08-15T18:01:51.202-07:00Mining MemoriesRasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-75562607908058174242016-01-12T10:50:00.000-08:002016-01-12T10:50:37.542-08:00Loves pour at the SeaShore<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">Sea shores have always been a hot-spot for a wide range of lovers from fun to peace. Depending on the popularity of the beach and the time of day or night, you can count the number of people at the beach. Early morning and a lonely beach is the time and place you need if you are a lover of peace and quiet, and what to speak if suddenly love melts in your ears and fills your heart with joy. Something similar was experienced by one of my husband’s managers recently in Goa.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last night when my husband came home I expected him to not talk to me, as we were on cold terms since a few days for reasons incomprehensible for both of us. But he was excited about something and wished to share it with me; at dinner he told me how his manager who had recently been to Goa for a vacation was enchanted by the singing of Harinaam at the beach by few devotees. He had intentionally opted for that beach because it is not usually crowded and is thus less noisy, but was taken by surprise when a group of devotees were singing Hare Krishna Mahamantra. He described it to be a very enchanting and peaceful experience.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We had the remaining food in silence; my husband asked me what I was thinking, and I said I will let him know. And here’s what it was.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first thing that came to my mind was far-sightedness of Srila Prabhupad, to start this activity of Chanting Mahamantra at the beach. Of course there are numerous more things done by Srila Prabhupad that has never failed to amaze devotees and Harinam at the beach was one of them.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was also reflecting on the glories of Harinaam-“God’s Lovely Names”-the most attractive sound vibrations in the entire creation. When I was a kid the first thing about the faith my parents followed (Christianity) that I was taught was<i> “In the name of the father, and of the son, and the holy spirit- Amen</i> (so be it)” When my thirst for spiritual knowledge and desire to know about Krishna brought me to ISKCON, The first thing I was asked to do was Chant the Holy names of the Lord. “<i>Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare</i>” &nbsp;I was drawing similarities, I don’t claim these similarities to be authorised. it is what I have understood( I am therfore open to comments and corrections) this is simply what I realised and happened to me. My Spiritual journey in this body from the time I am conscious began with importance of God’s names, and my Spiritual journey on the path I chose, or the path that chose me began by chanting those names.<i> A Trinity there a Trinity here.</i> Lost in these thoughts as I was travelling back the memory lane I stopped at one Sunday class I attended, Our guest teacher a senior nun from some other church asked us, what is the thing we need the most to survive. Different students were giving different answers, water, oxygen, money etc . . . Although she politely accepted all the answers, I was sure she was expecting something else, for an obvious reason that it was not a science or economic class, and right I was when she expressed satisfaction as I said “<i>Unconditional Love of God</i>” is what we need the most to survive. Without which we won’t be able to even take a single breath leave aside everything else. Now let me confess it was not my genius understanding or high enlightenment. It was something I had learned in a lecture at the temple in the previous week.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another thing I was reflecting on was one of my most favourite things to do. Out of the very few similarities that I share with my husband the most interesting desire I find is we both love sitting at the beach and sing Kirtan. Something we don’t miss to do whenever we visit Sri Sri Radha Gopinath at the Churney road temple near Chowpaty beach (Mumbai). Juhu beach is usually crowded and silent Kirtan is generally not possible.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The most important thing that I realised, is that just by discussing about holy names we forgot that we were angry with each other for reasons unknown to both of us, and our relationship became fine once again. Another magical potency of Harinaam. That gives me a practical solution to end our baseless arguments hence forth :p</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kXWfdwDv0js/VpVIp6pc2YI/AAAAAAAAA6U/jO3jFgz-Jeo/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kXWfdwDv0js/VpVIp6pc2YI/AAAAAAAAA6U/jO3jFgz-Jeo/s640/images.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Golden rays of the Golden Sun on the Golden grains of sand</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Golden voice singing the Golden names of Blue boy and His Golden doll</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All glories to the Golden Avatar and His Golden devotees</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Who brought this Gold for all.</div><br /></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-69429341117623034832016-01-06T10:09:00.000-08:002016-01-06T10:09:50.206-08:00A Warm Winter Morning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">As I sat near the window, enjoying a hot cup of coffee while being lovingly caressed by early morning winter breeze in the beginning of a new year, my eyes was lost in oblivion as my mind travelled to my past, every little memoir that was somewhere captured in parts of my heart I was ignorant about popped up changing my expressions from smile to giggles to moist eyes to bitterness. Mimicking the expressions was my heart where feelings went from happiness to ecstasy to pain as the mind remembered moments spent in school, with family, friends, old crushes, with parents, dad and his death.<br /><br />Perhaps this activity was triggered by a recent conversation with an old friend who informed me that they lost their mom a few months ago. &nbsp;I felt sorry, for their loss, for not being able to be with them at such a delicate time, but more because I was not aware of it for so many months. We were really good friends, and use to be among the first few to know what new was happening in each other’s life. Reflecting on this situation I thought what changed? And the answer followed “Time”<br /><br />Beautiful and Mysterious thing this Time is. A moment now you feel so choked up; drowning in a tumultuous ocean of emotions you wonder how will you breathe? And a hundred moments later you will have already taken a million breaths. <br /><br />Another thought that attracted my attention was how strange our mind is. It knows and understands the power of time, yet chooses to ignore it. In the night we lament for the day and in the day we cry over the previous night. A useless lamentation because the sun will rise when it has to -neither early nor late-; also, what a useless grief, because, it simply doesn’t serve the purpose of the lamentation. How thick can this logic be for us to understand, yet we do not.<br /><br />The best way to release the burden from the heart, and prevent choke ups and blockages is to open our heart to forgiveness and release the pain, embrace gratitude so that the heart becomes soft and remains brittle no more. If you are happy today, be grateful for all the challenging yesterdays, because had they not been challenging you wouldn’t have been appreciating the joy of today. And then why worry about tomorrow, because challenging or happy every tomorrow will have a tomorrow.<br /><br />Every person, every situation, every moment in our life will come serve its purpose and leave. Due to a numerous reasons you can be separated from a person, fight, distance, misunderstanding, change of situations, if nothing then death. Nothing is permanent, except your being with yourself and your being with God. At the end, that is the only permanent reality.<br /><br />Now is the only thing you can be sure of, and how you use it will determine your later. Suddenly the winter morning felt comfortingly warm as the rays of rising sun dawned upon my body, mind and soul. With the ending darkness, my heart released the burden of yesterday and embraced a new warm winter morning.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hWItlpgt7qM/Vo1V1idLHuI/AAAAAAAAA6I/ihaEfLEazvI/s1600/winter_morning_on_river_wide_by_aarekaz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hWItlpgt7qM/Vo1V1idLHuI/AAAAAAAAA6I/ihaEfLEazvI/s640/winter_morning_on_river_wide_by_aarekaz.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He who binds to himself a joy&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Does the winged life destroy;&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But he who kisses&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the joy as it flies&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lives in eternity's sun rise.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">- William Blake</div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-70303368272525446282015-12-19T22:23:00.002-08:002015-12-20T04:11:01.146-08:00Life's Birthday Present<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Beginning with an adorably romantic treasure hunt of perfectly selected gifts by my husband, my day began all excited and pensive. Going through daily chores, accepting love-filled wishes from dear ones, fulfilling some hobbies, reading, chanting, playing with my bachu and spending some family time, I reached the threshold of dusk in a blink of eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We left for the temple; my baby’s first visit to Radha Gopinath, and mine ‘after a long time’ visit. After an almost 2 hour journey, when we reached the closed door my heart skipped a beat and eyes immediately checked the watch. The doors were yet to open for last (shayan) Darshan of 10 mins. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Listening to the heart-melting tune of the </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Mahamantra, I recollected the same feelings that had filled our heart the previous time I was there. Same apprehension filled anticipation, some excitement, it was all the same just a lil more guilt of having the filth in the heart increased.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Darshan opened, dressed in pink roses and white lilies the blue boy and his golden doll were captivating everyone’s heart. The 10 mins of Darshan passed like 10 breaths of the heart, and again time to leave. We had Prasad, and left.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">What occupied my mind at that moment was the pink and white beauty of the most lovable sweethearts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Next day when I reflected on the day, I realised it was a small replica of life. a pensive beginning, responsibilities, hobbies, dreams, lil sadhna, leisure time(wasted time), a delayed start&nbsp;(post dusk)?&nbsp;owards the final destination and a day ending in peace; although it had feelings of anger, frustration, joy, pain, all passing throughout it ended in peace and gratitude, few regrets but also few hopes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This mini replica of my life in one day gifted me one of the finest realization I ever had, although we know it, picturing it or living it made it more substantial that everything is gonna pass just like 25 years of my life, but how I let it affect or bring an effect depends on my conscious living because I may not be able to remember or feel their presence throughout, the pink roses and white lilies drapped love is with you throughout and is also waiting at the end.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TFViwk2hPPY/VnaalXkyC9I/AAAAAAAAA48/1k3I2xa2Qe8/s1600/IMG-20151220-WA0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TFViwk2hPPY/VnaalXkyC9I/AAAAAAAAA48/1k3I2xa2Qe8/s640/IMG-20151220-WA0003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-64840325605188064962015-11-02T23:01:00.002-08:002015-11-02T23:01:32.686-08:00Krishna will be happy.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">More than a decade back on January 1<sup>st</sup>,2000; I had been to ISKCON Juhu, with Uncle and his family . It was too crowded so we could only manage a glance of the deities, and I vaguely remember instead of looking at the deities I was looking at the group of devotees dancing to the tune of Hare Krishna Mahamantra. I remember wondering what sort of worship that was. Then we came out of the temple and went to the snacks counter (since we had had nothing for the breakfast). While my uncle was purchasing some eatables I ran to the gift-stall that had attracted me. I was looking at the different types of beads when a man in saffron dhoti-kurta asked me, “Mala Karega?(would you like to do the beads?)” I gave him a confused look. (does he wants me to make these beads I wondered). He cleared again, “ Japa karega Japa? (would you like to chant?)” &nbsp;I asked him “ Why do we chant?” He gave a very sweet reply, “ Jaise chota bacha ka bar bar naam leta hai toh wo khush ho jata hai, waise Krishna bhi chota gopal hai, bar bar naam lega toh who khush ho jayega. (Just like little babies laugh when we repeatedly call their names, Krishna is also a small baby, if you repeat his names he will be very happy)” Listening to this at least I was delighted and went back to my uncle asking him to buy me the beads. He replied, “ Tera baap mujhe usi maala mein taang dega jaldi khao aur chalo. (Your father will hang me with the same beads, fnish your snack we have to leave.” I got very upset, and due to my over-sensitive nature&nbsp; on the verge of crying. Then my aunt promised, “Either you take his permission and then I will bring one for you, or wait till you grow big and then you chant” I considered the second option as I was too scared of my father and waited. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Then finally I managed to begin chanting on February 14<sup>th</sup>,2007. And while chanting I always remembered Krishna is getting happy, he is smiling and laughing and I enjoyed chanting the most.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">But it didn’t last too long, and slowly the chanting was more mechanical, and then the image of laughing Krishna was replaced by the prayers that I can chant the same way as I did, until recently where concentrating on chanting and completing the rounds has become the biggest challenge where I completely forgot the face of that smiling Krishna. But Krishna comes right in time to help you. Recently my baby started responding to his name (Krishna-Kirtan) and he was laughing and laughing when I repeatedly calling his name (Krishna) again and again. And the same form of Krishna smiling as I saw while chanting appeared in my thoughts and has stayed there. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">This incident has reinstated my faith in so many things, <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li>power of Krishna’s names</li><li>the effects of good preaching and to any age group. I was 9 yr old when that prabhuji explained why we chant</li><li>and that Krishna will never leave you, no matter what. He is there, right there, to hold you just when you are about to fall, or even if you fall he is there to pick you up. He will never even the lil spark of devotion in your heart blow off.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5bnivv15WUw/VjhbtiILRwI/AAAAAAAAAgA/cTRuU_RNY3g/s1600/hqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5bnivv15WUw/VjhbtiILRwI/AAAAAAAAAgA/cTRuU_RNY3g/s640/hqdefault.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><o:p></o:p><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-9185379318559785362015-09-05T02:31:00.000-07:002015-09-05T02:31:45.837-07:00He is coming. Where will you Keep Him?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="border-bottom: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 4.0pt 0cm;"> <br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Janmashtmi is here and we see many people decorating their houses, decorating ‘palanas’ (cradle) and arranging various paraphernalias. But take a moment to think, -while I am absolutely not against Deity-Worship- is that all the preparation required to Welcome the Supreme Personality of Godhead? Is he really interested in the nature of the metal of the palana you bring for him or number of flowers you offer, or sweets you make?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Krishna is ‘Atmarama’ meaning self-satisfied completely. By accepting our services He is actually pleasing us. Then how can we please Him? This question reminds me of an interesting story. ‘Krishna had 9 lakh cows, some of them were ‘Surabhi’ cows which produced extremely nectarine milk. These cows were personally taken care of by Mother Yashoda. She fed them Extremely fragrant special grass, milked them personally, and make butter out of them for Krishna, which was of highest quality and nectarine. All of it for Krishna. Then why would he steal the butter? Also being the Supreme owner of everything in all creations, everything belonged to him. Why would he steal? The answer is that by stealing this butter in his playful childhood pastime, He would steal the Butter-like Heart of the Braja-gopis. Their hearts were soft, pure, and sweet like freshly made butter. And they would keep it ready for Krishna to come and steal. So Krishna stole their butter to honour their offering of Love.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Wouldn’t we want Him to steal our hearts&nbsp; too? He can come and reside in our heart provided we keep it ready for him, A heart which is pure, full of Love, and free from hatred, anger, lust, envy, greed and pride. Our Heart is the most important thing to prepare to welcome the Beautiful Blue boy. He is Coming. Get Ready.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-990xuVgh2h0/Veq2I383q1I/AAAAAAAAAeA/FGjYxK7kkXE/s1600/screen520x924.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-990xuVgh2h0/Veq2I383q1I/AAAAAAAAAeA/FGjYxK7kkXE/s640/screen520x924.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Happy Janmashtmi.<o:p></o:p></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-58768985811152168662015-03-19T03:25:00.000-07:002015-03-19T04:06:11.823-07:00An Innocence Ago<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Trying to fathom the complexities of 20 vowels in the sprint of completing the assignments my mind drifted to the time where learning 5 vowels was an achievement finding words that do not contain these vowels was a clever discovery. The simplicity of lifestyle then, drew my attention to the simplicity of the thoughts and heart of a child. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It is so open and so unpolluted; filled with innocence. They fight with their friends and get along in no time. When you scold them they get hurt, but the moment you smile at them, they come running to you. No ego, no duplicity just a simple heart vulnerable yet resilient by the power of forgiveness. And the best defence statement <i>“jo bolta hai wahi hota hai”</i> (the one who teases possesses the same qualities) isn’t it the same principle, <i>“what you see in me is nothing but your reflection” or “When people insult you that are telling you the exact negative qualities they possess.”</i> Kids not only use this statement to defend themselves, but religiously believe it.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 21.3333339691162px; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">They express themselves without the fear of being judged being truthful inside out.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I thought to myself what happens as we grow up, what changes? Why can’t we still be able to take things lightly, why can’t we easily forgive? What are the impurities that enter our heart? And what makes us shut ourselves. We are constantly at guard, what are we protecting ourselves from? We take offences so easily and can hardly forget? We find it so difficult to genuinely apologise. And if we see someone who has innocence like a child, we call them dumb or foolish or silly. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">These intriguing thoughts invoked a strong aspiration to try to clear the blocks within me obstructing the flow of innocence and Love. To be able to free the heart from the shackles of pride, ego and anger and float in the bliss of sheer being, being in love with the creator, sing like a bird without knowing who listens and caring about what they think. Bathe in the light of freedom, freedom from prejudices, from ownerships, from false sense of identity and fear of losing. Not worrying about list of things that could go wrong and bothering to be right always.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Is it so difficult to go back innocence ago and be a child again?<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W6WwTj7ch-c/VQqtdy2YfpI/AAAAAAAAAZI/GRonn0wU5CE/s1600/children-laughing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W6WwTj7ch-c/VQqtdy2YfpI/AAAAAAAAAZI/GRonn0wU5CE/s1600/children-laughing.jpg" height="502" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span id="goog_1386252002"></span><span id="goog_1386252003"></span><br /></span></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-77730919157456283632015-02-25T11:36:00.002-08:002015-02-25T12:08:41.758-08:00Take away my will Krishna . . <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Remembering HH Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj on his appearance day (25 Feb).</div><div style="text-align: justify;">His most humble prayer in the mood of Vasudev dutta.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I got this poem as a gift ... I was just a couple of years old in my sadhna... This poem has changed my mood.. And m more inspired since then.. Amazing how Maharaj continues to inspire ... Even after he has physically left this world... Certainly this pure devotion and highest mercy.</div><br /><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Take away my WILL Krishna, </span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">I am yours.</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Force me to do what is right &amp; best.</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Use me as you like,</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">You be my intelligence.</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">You be my mind, </span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">You act as my will.</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">I do not know</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">what is best for me.</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">In this lifetime</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">I am trying so hard</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">and nothing is working.</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">I ask you to put me</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">in the right place,</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">at the right time,</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">for the right thing.</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Whatever is best,</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">whether it is auspicious or inauspicious,</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">bring on me what I need.</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">My desire,</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">my intelligence</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">even my will,</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">they are all contaminated.</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">I offer them all to you,</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">my dear Lord SHYAMASUNDARA</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">I am yours,</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">You do with me what is BEST.</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Help me to be eager,</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">to accept</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">not in a grudgingly mood,</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">but with real zeal and enthusiasm,</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">as I submit myself and ask,</span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">“what can I do?”</span></i><br /><br />&nbsp;H.H. Bhakti Tirtha Swami Krishnapada<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bF6yOsh40RM/VO4kE5Ch5FI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/XZ8pUETYfL8/s1600/HI4N4154dtSRGBmem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bF6yOsh40RM/VO4kE5Ch5FI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/XZ8pUETYfL8/s1600/HI4N4154dtSRGBmem.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;"></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-74172104418228437762015-02-14T04:54:00.002-08:002015-02-14T04:54:42.699-08:00Happy Saint Valentine’s Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Nyala; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Many people have different opinions about today (Saint Valentine’s Day). Some enjoy it, some crib about it, some are simply neutral. For me it is yet another opportunity where we can celebrate the Love of God. Historically, that is what both the Saint Valentine actually did. It may be argued that God’s Love can be celebrated every day, every moment; true!! But until we achieve the unconditioned consciousness and can sincerely feel that, there is no harm in doing it at least on a few days. Anyways we always hunt for a reason to celebrate.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Nyala; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Nyala; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My day began missing my beloved father at almost the midnight. I was thinking about him that after he left how I want him back even if it means he scolding me all day, or being angry at me, because I know at the core of his heart there was immense love, and his anger was only a manifestation of his love and concern. I shared this thought with my husband, and we appreciated the fact that the same thing apply to his parents. It is true that most of the times we are irritated by the constant nagging of our closed ones, parents, spouse and siblings perhaps even friends. But when they are no more in our life we start missing even their anger or our fights with them.</span><span style="font-family: Nyala; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I lied awake for some time reflecting on my favorite bible verse</span><b style="font-family: Nyala; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">&nbsp;</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: Nyala; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></b></div><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: Nyala; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">‘1 Corinthians 13:4-7’ <i>4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.</i></b></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: Nyala; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Nyala; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The more I think over it, the more this psalm sinks deep in my mind and opens my heart to forgiveness and patience. Respecting individuality is the first step to be able to love someone. If we do not accept and respect a person for what they are, how can we love them? The Love then becomes conditional, which diminishes the entire glory of Love. Love is simply unconditional, the moment we add any ‘Ifs or Buts’ it can be called anything but Love.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Nyala; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Nyala; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It is not that we do not know all these great things about Love, we may have read it in&nbsp;books, heard it in sermons or movies a zillion times, the difficult part is to realize it even more to align it with our natural behavior. Nevertheless we must try, till we succeed. And the simplest way to do it is by Loving God. Because <i><b>“when we Love God first we Love each other better”</b> </i>If our every action could simply be placed around the question <i>“Will this please Krishna?”</i> I am sure most of us would be doing the right thing. At the end it is not between you and anyone, but it is always between you and Krishna.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Nyala; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yyd9k_er71s/VN9EJ55X5YI/AAAAAAAAAXg/bPVOl42oTZ4/s1600/KVD4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yyd9k_er71s/VN9EJ55X5YI/AAAAAAAAAXg/bPVOl42oTZ4/s1600/KVD4.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Nyala; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Nyala; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-69561615443652248462015-02-10T00:48:00.000-08:002015-02-10T00:48:22.165-08:00Monkey Reflection<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="border-bottom: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 4.0pt 0cm;"> <div align="center" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sitting in the park I was noticing a monkey playing on a nearby tree.&nbsp; It climbed down and sat on a bike parked by the tree. Looking at his own reflection in the mirror the monkey was puzzled. It tried to look everywhere for the other monkey. It also went behind the mirror. Angry he started pulling the mirror and vigorously moving it until the owner of the bike hushed it away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was not the only spectator at the scene and we all were laughing at the silly act of the monkey. However, the anger and irritation along with the amazement of the monkey on seeing its own reflection reminded me of a thought I had read few days ago. <b><i>“Everything that irritates you about others is your key to understanding yourself. What angers you in another person is an unhealed aspect of your own self. If you had already resolved that particular issue, you would not be irritated by its reflection back to you.” <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s common wonder that we are irritated to see behaviour that is not according to our expectations. And like the monkey we fail to identify the behaviour to be the reflection of similar behaviour or attitude within ourselves. For instance, when someone goes around announcing their first rank, it may be simply because they are just too excited about it and wish to share their happiness with everyone they meet. Just like a little child goes around showing their new toy to everyone. But, if we feel that they are boasting, then the tendency to boast is actually hidden within us. And these hidden impurities within us manifest themselves in the face of our feelings towards others. It can serve as a good check on our heart, before we declare our judgement about others. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These imperfections within us make us very human. It is not easy to be all kind all loving and all good all the time. However, there is no loss trying to change our feelings for others. It will only help us love them better, and keep our heart free from unwanted impurities. As kids we found it so easy to forgive and forget, and get back to loving one another, just because our heart was free of impurities and filled with innocent love. I believe by identifying and trying to remove these impurities from our heart, we can try to love with child-like innocence. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2uV_QSqXb7o/VNnFXiVoUBI/AAAAAAAAAXE/0WgKkvtp1eg/s1600/Monkeys-Taught-To-Recognize-Themselves-In-The-Mirror-2ye9d933q1zmi2sgt4axhc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2uV_QSqXb7o/VNnFXiVoUBI/AAAAAAAAAXE/0WgKkvtp1eg/s1600/Monkeys-Taught-To-Recognize-Themselves-In-The-Mirror-2ye9d933q1zmi2sgt4axhc.jpg" height="378" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">P.S:</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am wondering how much a little monkey can teach with his silly act. True, Krishna can use anything at any time to teach us. Keep Looking and Keep Listening with your heart open.</span><b style="font-family: 'Poor Richard', serif;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-14695013765372164992014-07-19T01:00:00.000-07:002014-07-19T02:52:28.563-07:00An Evening With Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What a festival for the eyes it is to see beauty personified! Since a few days my mind was wandering around the beautiful form of RadhaGopinath (@ ISKCON Churney Road); and yesterday I received a text saying that it was His birthday. Now what could stop us from visiting the Most Beautiful Blue-Boy.</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After my college I called my husband to discuss with him the time and place where we could meet and then rush to greet the 'Birthday Boy.'</span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Excited, euphoric and panting a little we reached His merciful abode. But, increasing our elated eagerness, the curtains were closed. A mild pleasant kirtan appeased our apprehensive heart as we were waiting for the darshan. Finally the bell rang and the curtains opened and our eyes celebrated the most awaited delight.</span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In a yellow dhoti, green waists-band abd a red head-gear, Sri Gopinath was capturing our mind with His colorful appearance. But, His heart seemed captured by the most Beautiful Sri Radhe dressed in orange and red.</span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All of us were spell bounded by Their charming darshan and couldn't move an inch for quite a while. With the enchanting kirtan our captivated heart were offering prayers of gratitude for the opportunity of that moment.</span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After sitting for a while we decided to leave as the curtains were about to close and it is not a happy sight. Then we had a fulfilling dinner and preferred to walk till the railway station. However, somehow, we got attracted by the beach and decided to sit there for sometime.</span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Embracing the breeze of tranquility we sat a little away from the shore to not be disturbed by the waters. It was low tide and fortunately no rains. The divine solitude of the atmosphere inspired me to sing the names and glories of the Lord.</span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With every kiss of the soothing wind and a heart heavy with gratitude we felt the Love of God in every moment. Our souls thanked the supreme for calling us to His abode and then guiding us to witness His incredible creations- the playful waves, the gliding wind, the mysterious sky and the sacred silence amidst the screaming vehicles of a city like Mumbai. I realized</span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> "how peace can be found even amidst chaos if we can simply recognize the presence of God in every situation, everywhere and appreciate His blessings."</i></b></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What was supposed to be 5 mins turned into an hour and we had to leave. Though we wished to wait a little longer, our heart was tasting nectar of contentment. We could not speak for some time, but knew that we both were reflecting on the gift of that Evening with Love.</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wwLd5ppJGt4/U8omrVlNbII/AAAAAAAAAR8/MX2OHNLs000/s1600/IMG-20140719-WA0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wwLd5ppJGt4/U8omrVlNbII/AAAAAAAAAR8/MX2OHNLs000/s1600/IMG-20140719-WA0003.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-90142613059634493902014-07-06T20:38:00.001-07:002014-07-19T02:51:25.815-07:00Happy Birthday Paa !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Often we do not realise the value of people while they are with us.&nbsp;And when they are gone, it gets too late to repent and express our</span></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Love and Gratitude to them.</span></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This morning I was listening to a lecture. A part of the lecture was&nbsp;about Daughter-Father relationship. The part where Mother Sita is</span></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">married and King Janak has to see her going to her new Home in Ayodhya. The description of the loving relationship shared between Fathers and Daughters was so beautifully described by the speaker that almost all of the people in the audience felt it through tears.</span></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sometimes we so easily fail to understand or rather simply overlook the care hidden when our father&nbsp;scolds us. We turn deaf to the concern behind his every call when we are out of our&nbsp;homes. We turn blind to all the hard-work he does to fulfil&nbsp;our every desire. His Love-filled questions appear to&nbsp;us like a frustrating interrogation. And in all these beliefs of our mind we fail to express our Love and Gratitude for him.</span></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"></div><blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 5px; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 15px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A father is neither an anchor to hold us back, nor a sail to take us&nbsp;through, but, a guiding light where his love shows us the way. He is</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">someone you always look up to.</span></div></blockquote><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I always wrapped the gift of Gratitude and Love, but was never able to&nbsp;present it to you. And now I don't know paa how will my thoughts reach&nbsp;you. When I was blessed with so much of your love, I always turned&nbsp;away, misunderstood you and offended you in many ways. But you always&nbsp;Loved me and cared for me. It is said, "Love leaves a memory; no one&nbsp;can steal, and Death leaves a heart-ache no one can heal"</span></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I thank God for this beautiful day for the most Lovely gift of God came in this world and I was blessed to be your beloved Daughter. I am sure that wherever you are, You are in the protection of His Supreme Love and Care.</span></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Love you paa.</span></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oo6_Kx1klYw/U7oKuqPsUEI/AAAAAAAAARo/LL9vG1VUrCI/s1600/images-3.bin" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oo6_Kx1klYw/U7oKuqPsUEI/AAAAAAAAARo/LL9vG1VUrCI/s1600/images-3.bin" height="640" width="457" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-78209008438242278842014-03-23T12:31:00.005-07:002014-03-23T12:32:19.824-07:00Love you Maa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This morning I was cleaning cupboard drawer with my mom; suddenly with moist eyes she told me, "For whom would I do this after you go? Your dad left me first and now you would leave in next 40 days" I had nothing to reply. She kept talking to herself, "how would I live without you".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the evening we both went to visit my Godmother after a very long time (for me). My Godmother expressed her feelings to me, She started by asking me about my recent trip to Mayapur, (which reminds me, I need to pen down that incredible experience too) what is the meaning of parikrama? How do I feel about Devotion to Krishna? what are my experiences? For the first time she sincerely wanted to know about what I was doing, but I couldn't speak much as I was completely surprised by her loving inquiries. I had expected a nice session of taunts, scoldings, dissapointment to shoot at me, but she was simply open to hear me with all her heart.She told me " Initially I was upset with your decision to follow Krishna Consciousness, to marry a non-catholic guy, but recently I thought about it. Maybe you were meant to be where you are, The almighty Lord is simply more powerful and he has plans for all of us."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was again speechless by her understanding and affectionate words. I could not say much.We just shared a video and bhajan, and had a general conversation. While leaving I just hugged her, and she too was in tears, She started recollecting how when i was a kid, I looked for her in the church and ran to sit next to her, and force her to come home and fall in her lap and hear stories from bible.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>It is true that Mother is the closest example of God's Love for us.</b> My lips could not move to allow the words to come out, but my heart was loudly thanking them, for all that they did for me all the time. Both these beautiful women, have a major role in carving me to whatever little good I am today, Its their Love which they always expressed, whether they hugged me or scolded me that has taught me to appreciate life and everything that is gifted to you. <b>There is no such thing as pain if you completely trust God</b>. And they are living examples of this principle.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I can never thank them enough but in feeble words my heart kept saying<b><i> " Thank you Maa for all your love and care, Thank you for waking up early morning to make my breakfast and pack my tiffin for school, Thank you for knowing and understanding the deepest desire of my heart always, Thank you for arranging my books on the shelf and my clothes in the cupboard whenever I got too lazy, Thank you for always being there for me, to celebrate my every achievement and to cheer me up in my every failure, Many times you accepted paa's anger on my behalf, many times I was rude to you, I hurt you with my harsh and insensitive words, I failed to understand your love and concern whenever you scolded me, but you still loved me, I am sorry Maa, for not being able to appreciate your love and care, I am sorry to not fully recognize it. Whenever I was sick, you stayed up all night taking care of my needs, you never bothered about your comfort, but selflessly endlessly just loved me and took care of all of us. I am sorry to not appreciate every sacrifice that you have always made. I Love you Maa, I Love you."</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_SClzlGyOAQ/Uy82hf5cPNI/AAAAAAAAANk/qqSOD1BK2s8/s1600/image_1-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_SClzlGyOAQ/Uy82hf5cPNI/AAAAAAAAANk/qqSOD1BK2s8/s1600/image_1-31.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-33883557842539960072014-01-13T03:30:00.002-08:002014-01-13T03:41:04.242-08:00Test at Every Step<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Krsna always tests us at every step of life. Sometimes we are tested when nothing happens at all and sometimes when everything happens all at once. What is the Difference?</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Actually there is no difference. In both the cases our behaviour and true nature is tested. However, apparently, when nothing happens our faith and patience is tested and when everything happens our composure and tolerance is tested.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We know Mahaprabhu's prayer; some of us may be reciting it every day <i>"yatha tatha va vidadhaatu lampato, mat prana nathastu sa eva naaparah"- Sikshastakam-8.</i> Treat me as you like; embrace me or make me brokenhearted, but you will still remain the lord of my Life, Unconditionally.In this prayer Sri Caitanya mahaprabhu has clearly explained that there is no point at which we need to lament for any kind of material loss.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A very common scenario is the test when Money or Wealth in any form is absent or present. When I have money, I am tested how I use it; whether I consider that money as my hard earned wealth and use it for sense gratification or whether I consider that money as Krsna's property and use it for his service? Likewise when I dont have money I am tested how I react? Whether I start complaining, worrying or losing faith. Or if I am composed, and with faith continue my services.I will worry only when my mood is sense enjoyment and due to lack of money my desires are getting frustrated. But if I truly consider <i>"ayi nanda tanuja kinkaram"</i>- I am the eternal servant of the Beautiful Son of Nanda Maharaj- then I wont have to worry at all.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A little anxiousness is good if it is for seva, but the worry of not being able to enjoy is nothing but an unnecessary invitation to depression.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But it is alright. We all have to give a series of tests. Just like we have class tests, weekly tests, Surprise tests, semester exams, Some even have to give KT exams or Re-exams until we graduate. Similarly in life we give a series of tests until we finally graduate to the level of surrender.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>"Krsna's Love is Mercy not Justice"- HH Radhanath Maharaj.</i></b> Obviously, if it had to be justice. We would never deserve. We could never clear, we could never qualify. It's only the grace marks that He gives and our inumerable mistakes that he ignores, that we could make some progress.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Through our self obsessed eyes we may only see suffering and difficulties but Krsna's tests are the most lineant ones. He allows us to look in the books and he also allows us to ask anyone who knows better. All the help is available you just need to sincerely appear with faith and have the willingness to Graduate.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8s4sI3mRfFU/UtPOOVPFmJI/AAAAAAAAAMU/qL9BI8cvV0s/s1600/gs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8s4sI3mRfFU/UtPOOVPFmJI/AAAAAAAAAMU/qL9BI8cvV0s/s640/gs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-76886997629758842932013-11-17T00:59:00.002-08:002013-11-17T01:12:41.988-08:00Blame Game<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">After observing different kinds of relationships and of course from my personal experience, I recently had a realization. Few days ago my mum was angry over some reason I still don’t know, maybe her obvious frustration that she has to deal with all the challenges without dad. In her anger she just gave away freshly cooked food, just because I didn't wanted to eat that moment, and she was fighting with me for reasons which were otherwise not wrong to her.&nbsp; Also just a couple of days back, my friends had a fight over a small thing but it went for quite a long time and it went on increasing for almost 2 days. I have also faced similar senseless, pointless fights with my dear ones.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">What I realized is, the main reason we fight is because we are so much determined to prove that it was the other person’s fault due to which the fight never ends and the battle starts with most common statements like, “I did so because You always do the same…”, “ If I didn't call couldn't you call”, “you could have also tried to call”, “You have not yet apologized”, “ First see how you behave” and so on…<b>The worst thing we do is use all the mistakes of the past as the most powerful weapon to win the current battle. Winning the battle becomes so important to us that we just don’t care how the other person will feel by our words.</b> In our typical attempt to justify our mistakes it is possible that we make an injury difficult to heal.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Most of the times such little fights help to make relationships more dynamic, my mom and me laugh at that incident today. It’s not always serious. But sometimes we don’t know how to end it… <i>This BLAME GAME</i>. So long as fights are for fun, they are entertaining, but if not stopped in time they can break relationships, and break people’s heart and bring frustration and agitation. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Is it so difficult to say Sorry? I love to fight too, but I don’t love to continue it till the next day. I am very fond of the saying <i><b>“raat gayi baat gayi”</b></i>. Because we cannot stop our anger all at once, at-least we can <b>forget the past and start afresh each day</b>. <i>There is no right or wrong way to love, Some parents may ask their children to justify mistakes while some consider justification as back-answering, Love means different things to different people there is no ‘One for ALL’ concept here. &nbsp;Love cannot be defined, people may list its different characteristics, There cannot be guidelines how to love. But Love certainly means to simply love without contaminating it with EGO. <b>In Bible, Corinthians 13: 4-5 says Love is patient,<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1081826007161598836&amp;pli=1" name="1"></a>&nbsp;love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1081826007161598836&amp;pli=1" name="2"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1081826007161598836&amp;pli=1" name="3"></a>&nbsp;it is not easily angered,<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1081826007161598836&amp;pli=1" name="4"></a>&nbsp;it keeps no record of wrongs.</b><o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It’s good to fight, but too many fights are not good for relationships.'<b><i>Srila Prabhupad said Fights within family is just like a dark cloud it simply covers the sun for sometimes so we should not worry.'</i></b>&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">But no one likes prolonged darkness. There are more important things to do than to waste so much time and energy on petty things and just fight for no reason. All you have to do, when you are angry, take some time be quite, calm down a little and have a talk rather than behave like animals and fight just to win. Its more important to keep relationships over our mistakes. No one is perfect, Mistakes needs to be corrected not to be fought on. The best thing to do after fight is Laugh over it and end it. is it too difficult?<o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-giNpR3BPfro/UoiFXlC_NNI/AAAAAAAAALw/6X8oMYe3eks/s1600/2009-08-07-blame_toon_andgrantcardone1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="574" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-giNpR3BPfro/UoiFXlC_NNI/AAAAAAAAALw/6X8oMYe3eks/s640/2009-08-07-blame_toon_andgrantcardone1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-34988572762016432342013-08-31T00:19:00.002-07:002013-08-31T00:21:06.001-07:00D(Anger)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span class="bqquotelink"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span class="bqquotelink"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.</span></i></b><span class="bqquotelink"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>”</i>-</b></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><b>Nelson Mandela</b></span><span class="bodybold"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>. </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="bodybold"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="bodybold"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: medium;">As I read this line, I started thinking over it. Besides its direct meaning, a different interpretation occurred to me; I thought,&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Gabriola;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">isn't</span></span><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: medium;">&nbsp;it a reason why people believe in <b>‘Tit for Tat’</b>, to try to hurt others in the same way and in the same language as they might have knowingly or unknowingly offended us. I don’t know exactly how much percent of people do it; but, I am definitely one of them, who wait till the right time to fire back exactly the same words so that it affects or rather hurts more. And those who are not from this species, they have a different way to follow this principle, most others cannot be calm and peaceful unless they have insulted their so-called offender enough, may not be in exactly same words, but in many ways that can best hurt others. In fact, you must have heard many people proudly say, “No one can fight with me, and win me in argument” the famous dialogue “Mujhse ladte samay sabki bolti bandh ho jati hai”. (Of course&nbsp;I am talking about a quarrel and not a genuine healthy debate.) When we proudly say that I can hurt someone best, they become speechless, they are fully agitated and provoked by my words, what are we actually proving? Our Greatness or Glories? No, we are proving how horrible we are, that we can fall down to any degree just to upset others. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 14pt;">Then there are also times, when we understand the reason and justifications behind somebody’s mistake, we know them to be genuine, and yet we scold them. Why? Simply because, our Egoistic and Selfish expectations are frustrated. And we want to throw it out. Some exhibit their ego by fighting back and some by silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 14pt;">But where is all this leading us to? How much and how long can we live hurting others and holding grudges. Do we even realize, when we talk about inviting Krsna in our hearts, is our heart worthy enough for Krsna to stay? How can he sit on the floor of lust, in the darkness of anger and dirty odor of vengefulness and also recently I read Rumi, who said, “When we look for the lord, the Lord is in the looks of eyes,” How can we expect to look at Krsna, when our eyes are completely filled with hatred. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 14pt;">&nbsp;Besides this, it is not only the offender who needs to be tolerant and cultivate forbearance, but it also required for the offended to be patience and forgiving. Only this can help bring about harmony. Because, as my Guru Maharaj <b>(HH Radhanath Swami) says, “Holding grudges or anger against someone, it is like holding a burning coal in our hands, to throw at them, but can we see that the first thing to get burn is our own hands” </b>We must have often heard that you need to forgive to be forgiven. In church when we pray, <b><i>“and forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us” </i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 14pt;">There is a very simple formula for a peaceful life, <b>“FORGIVENESS”</b>but it is very difficult to follow. One of the most effective way to get rid of any injury or hurt is to realize, “<i> I must have done the same to somebody at some time and so I am facing this” </i>and that’s it, the pain is reduced and we are humbled. Thus we can transform frustrating situations in glorious opportunities to be humble and seek for mercy. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 14pt;"><i>Anger and Intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding</i>- Mahatma Gandhi and whatever begins in anger is bound to end in shame. <b><i>A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook offences.&nbsp;</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 14pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qCE__lqo06M/UiGY3VtFa5I/AAAAAAAAAKk/RMbMEC98Y3s/s1600/anger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qCE__lqo06M/UiGY3VtFa5I/AAAAAAAAAKk/RMbMEC98Y3s/s640/anger.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 14pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 14pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 14pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-1884802719181787462013-08-14T21:24:00.005-07:002013-08-14T21:24:56.882-07:00Heavy Penalty<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Just a small incident I wish to share. Krsna has His own ways to instruct. Recently I was caught by the TC; as my season ticket (monthly pass) expired just the previous day. I had completely forgotten about renewing my pass. I requested him to excuse me as it was an honest mistake. But he was very strict and penalized me with an amount which could have got me a travel for more than 2 months. My mom and friends mockingly laughed at me. They found it quite amazing because I am always very particular about having proper tickets, giving rightful fare; just try to follow senior devotees. But this incident was an epic<o:p></o:p></div>for them. My mom said good lesson for you, some friends said never mind. For me it was very embarrassing. Although I too laughed at it, but somewhere I was affected by it.<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I realized, just a carelessness of one day, and I was penalized despite of following the ethics all the time every time. This incident taught me the importance of being alert and careful, we may have been following the principles and practicing different angas of bhakti for years, but a moment of carelessness can earn a huge penalty. It may not take Bhakti away, but will definitely disturb the rhythm of our service. And we won’t be able to even laugh at it. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Recently we got an opportunity to serve a senior Vaishnava couple. They explained how in a family Bhakti is like the youngest baby, like the most precious jewel. We need to take care of it and nurture it. <b>A moment of inattentiveness or carelessness and Bhakti will slip away.</b> And in this age of Kali, we cannot afford to waste our time in re-establishing our mood of service again and again. We need to take things seriously, and inquire about the truths of life. Every day our sadhna should be better than the previous day; even a constant level of practice is as good as degradation. The quality of our sadhna should increase exponentially with the increasing number of days.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We cannot imagine how many births we have spent without serving Krsna, how many more can we afford to? You never know what the next moment holds for you. <b>We are heading towards a surprise test moment by moment, because not all of us are lucky to know the dates of the Final Test, for most of us it is gonna be a surprise.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ce0jLWAV6ks/UgxXxR4GuEI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/NhNGevnI9S8/s1600/236c472.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ce0jLWAV6ks/UgxXxR4GuEI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/NhNGevnI9S8/s320/236c472.png" width="320" /></a></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-11650372231379220792013-08-08T14:16:00.002-07:002013-08-08T14:16:42.248-07:00Will it Please Krishna<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Reading through the pages of ‘<b>Nectar Stream</b>’ a book by HH Radhanath Maharaj, gifted to me by one of my dear God-sisters, I came across this quote, “<b><i>In this age of Kali, moving mountains is easier than trying to co-operate”. It brought a grin on my face.</i></b> “How true!” I exclaimed to myself and continued with my routine. Now all those who have the experience of the Mumbai locals especially the mumbaikars will agree with me that an unpredictable fight or a senseless argument is obvious in the compartment; especially among the female passengers. That day I witnessed one such argument among two ladies. Out of them one seemed to be highly religious and powerful, at least by the statement she made. She said to the other woman that just because she fought with her god will punish her severely. I wondered. Is this what we understand about religion and spirituality? Will God even consider the prayers and pleas of this woman? <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">How can any religion make someone so vengeful and intolerant? Can any religion take away our empathy, understanding and patience? Gurumaharaj says, “<i><b>Seek not to be understood, but Understand.</b></i>” It is so important. I was amazed. We cannot maintain our tolerance and composure even in a journey of 20mins, and we talk about being religious and spiritual. I could now connect to the quote I read that morning. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I realized how we talk about Loving god and serving him and worshiping him while we do not even follow the basic requisites by loving and serving his people. For loving God means loving everyone and everything just as him. Shouldn’t we first try to cultivate basic qualities and then aim for higher moods? Isn’t it better to learn to draw before attempt our masterpiece? <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Tolerance, Co-operation, Forgiveness, Patience we talk about these principles. But how often do we practice them. If our mother scolds, we immediately back answer instead of tolerating, if our friend or anyone hurts us we become vengeful or at least angry instead of forgiving. We simply do not try to adjust, but always want to control. Where Krsna expects us to be simple at heart we complicate our lives like a spider, which builds web around itself and is finally trapped in it to death.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">What does simplicity means? Wearing simple clothes? Eating simple food? Or is it about having a heart free from envy, pride, anger and hatred; filled with only one intention, “how can I please the Lord?” The moment we center our lives around pleasure of Krishna and his service, we will be able to get rid of all these anarthas occupying our mind. A simple Heart doesn’t try to control, instead adjusts and compromises to maintain the harmony. A Devotee is very determinant but at the same time extremely humble. Dalai Lama said, “<b><i>In the practice of Tolerance, once enemy is the best teacher.</i></b>” All we need to do is before exhibiting any emotion ask a quick Question to ourselves, “<i><b>Will this please Krishna?</b></i>”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wAeZ9T3mecs/UgQKjrNNeKI/AAAAAAAAAJc/ClEq7ynIcWg/s1600/1-here+I+am+Lord.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="524" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wAeZ9T3mecs/UgQKjrNNeKI/AAAAAAAAAJc/ClEq7ynIcWg/s640/1-here+I+am+Lord.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-29701630601775774942013-07-13T22:57:00.002-07:002013-07-13T22:57:38.690-07:00Dog of Krishna<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">I always wondered why Srila Prabhupad said we are Krishna’s dog. This thought always bothered me why he chose a dog. Few days ago one of a very old friend of my family engaged himself and me in a long conversation. By Krsna’s unlimited mercy I am surrounded by souls who are extremely spiritual in various faiths. This uncle mentioned about qualities of Dog. He said a dog has up to 40 qualities; out of which one of the most important qualities is his humility. No matter how much you hit your dog, scold them, be rude to them they will still wag their tails on seeing you. They are so faithful that no matter what it takes they will always try to defend you from any potential danger..</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">After he went I reflected on our conversation, and was wondering we are not even as good as dogs and we feel so proud of ourselves. I remembered Srila Prabhupad often asked to feel like a dog, and my doubt was resolved why a dog? My Guru Maharaj HH Radhanath Swami explains the principle of<strong>&nbsp;Opposites attracting each other in terms of Spiritual success. He says Krishna is all powerful so if we try to show our power to him we will only repel him. Power of knowledge, wealth, renunciation or beauty etc &nbsp;&nbsp;cannot attract him. Humility attracts him. The more we get humble, the more Krsna will come running to us.</strong></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">Such a simple attitude but we find it so difficult to adopt it. Because we can just not give up our egoistic identity of being a scholar, or super talented or an excellent human being or what’s more common “I know and understand everything” If someone scolds us even worse we hold eternal enmity against that person, we can never forget that insult, what to speak of still loving the person unconditionally. We are so conditioned in every walk of life, yet we are proud. We can Love only if we are loved, we can offer respect only if we are respected, we care only if we are cared for. And we talk about “<strong><em>trnadapi sunicena</em></strong>.”</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">I laughed at myself thinking that we claim to have so much knowledge; but realization- NONE.&nbsp; Just then I came across this quote “<strong>By reading you learn, but you understand by LOVE”</strong>.&nbsp; And it was so appealing. We may know everything, but we do not understand. No matter what we believe, we only Love ourselves. Because, if we were selfless we wouldn’t be hurt, we wouldn’t feel enmity, anger, hatred. We would only be concerned about the pleasure of our beloved.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">Every time now when I see a dog, I feel “I am not even as good as him”.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sI-ITTPJzAk/UeI9waDgpBI/AAAAAAAAAJE/VbNX-SN55o0/s1600/beagle_pup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="588" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sI-ITTPJzAk/UeI9waDgpBI/AAAAAAAAAJE/VbNX-SN55o0/s640/beagle_pup.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;"><br /></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-11859164396765129072013-06-11T13:30:00.001-07:002013-06-11T13:30:17.700-07:00Perfect Happiness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“King of the world Thou art poor; Happiness is with the Servant for Sure”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“It is true that wealth and luxuries make you glad; however, there is no use of this momentary gladness. One can be contented perpetually merely by giving happiness to others. One can gain serenity by bringing a modest smile on gloomy face one can experience showers of blessings by satisfying a starving stomach. One can attain triumph on sorrow just by tending a wound; Sheathing a stripped or simply by doing little to add joy to this mourning world by serving unconditionally- not the ones who can repay you- will craft you as the most happiest person on this soil.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I found this note on a sheet of paper when I was cleaning my treasure boxes on Sunday. I wrote it when I was in School class 8; I remember we were learning Be-attitudes in our religion class which made me elaborate this. But while reading it now I found something missing in it. Perhaps something that I experienced over the years or I learnt in the association of Vaishnavas. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Everything mentioned are act of goodness, we can always do them, it’s better than being rude and selfish. But how long can we feed someone and how many? How many clothes can we provide, how much sorrow can ‘We’ take away. My Guru Maharaj often quotes Mother Teressa in his lectures <b>“The world is hungry, not the hunger of belly but hunger of heart. The world is hungry for Love and only God’s Love can satisfy.”</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It’s just so real; we can make wonders when we simply become instruments in the hands of God and let him use us as he wants. Feed the hungry with God’s Love, cover the timid people with the protection of god’s promises, bring them joy; eternal happiness by teaching them the art of Loving God, of Trusting and Depending on Him. Only that can bring them complete Peace. “Perfect Happiness”.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-19017972126982361862013-06-09T20:23:00.003-07:002013-06-09T20:33:06.390-07:00Terrifying False-Ego<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I was attracted by a beautiful girl, who seemed to be my Samaritan and I felt that she could be my best friend. She was very pretty and talked very pleasingly, this illusion ended when I discovered she was a terrorist disguised, her intention was not to physically harm me, but she would not let me speak to anyone, not make any phone call or send any message. I was kind of home arrested by her. I tried to lock her in and escape but she caught me. I called the police they seemed least bothered and said they would come the next day to arrest her. She was laughing at me, in anger I tried to chop her with a knife and I kept stabbing her, but she won’t die. I chopped off her leg and made scars all over her body but she still laughed at me looking even more ferocious. I called some butchers to take and just cut her off into pieces because there was no way to destroy her, she escaped them and jumped into a pool pretending to be dead, but just when I relaxed she came back and called for me in a very grave and scary voice. I woke up pale and panting my breath out. It was a scary dream.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It was 4 in the morning; I got fresh and sat for my rounds of japa. I was still terrified with the dream I sincerely prayed to Narsimha Dev to cast away my fear and soon I realized, <b>“Wasn’t that beautiful lady a personification of my FALSE-EGO?” </b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Our False-ego also appears very pleasing and attractive, but soon it starts taking us away from our loved ones, it doesn’t allow us to speak to them, apologize to them and care for their feelings. It keeps us arrested within ourselves. We cannot lock it; it catches us. When someone tries to hurt it, it gets even more ferocious. No one else can help us get rid of us just like the policemen who were least bothered or even the butchers who failed to catch her. And when we think we are free of it and get careless it comes again terrifying us calling for us and petrifying us. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">This made me worried, how can we be free of this false-ego. <b>The answer to it was “Wake-up” it is a dream, “False”-Ego, it is only an illusion. We need to pray to Narsimha Dev, take complete shelter of the Holy-names; only then shall we be free of this False-Ego, only then shall we be able to overcome it. And accept the reality the only truth <i><u>“ayi nanda tanuja kinkaram”</u> </i>(sikshastakam verse-5), that ‘I am the eternal servant of the beautiful son of Nanda Maharaj.’</b><o:p></o:p><br /><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bc4qOpuIvI0/UbVIwhomOAI/AAAAAAAAAIU/km8_BOH_PV4/s1600/fe-nm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bc4qOpuIvI0/UbVIwhomOAI/AAAAAAAAAIU/km8_BOH_PV4/s640/fe-nm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><br /></b></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-22611733766398852282013-05-18T17:20:00.002-07:002013-05-19T01:25:15.776-07:00Paint With God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Not really some realizations but just a day collected in my memory bag . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The day began with guilt of Waking up late, compensating for which I made a plan to go to temple with my mom and my cute little cousin; to my frustration the plan was cancelled when my mother suddenly remembered my Grandma’s invitation to her home. I agreed to it as my Grandma made me promise a visit to her. So it was six of us (my aunt and her two daughters also joined in) who finally decided to surprise Grandma. . . Somewhat convinced and equally disappointed with the change of plan, I tried to accept my Day as it came. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Due to the usual rush of Mumbai local, all six of us dispersed in different corners of the compartment in search of a place to sit. Nothing better could have happened, as I found sometime to chant rather than force myself into traditional talks with my mom or aunt. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I felt good after few rounds and had kept aside my beads when my cousin came to call me saying that they got seats for all of us to sit together. I went to them and spent some time cracking jokes and clicking pictures.&nbsp; Had a small textual conversation with a friend which reflected some of my deficiencies, although I am well-aware of them, and know I need a lot to change, for some reason realizing my shortcomings at that moment irritated me, perhaps my ego was pricked. With some disturbance of mood, we reached soon, and as we knew they were pleasantly surprised to welcome us.&nbsp; After a little snack my Grandpa took me upstairs to his study to have a small conversation with me. He has a deep spiritual inclination in Christian Faith and the first question he asked me was, “How is your Spiritual Life?” He was preaching bible to me, I felt good, because ultimately he was talking about my Kanha whom he called Yahweh. It was a good conversation; he gave me a book to read too.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Soon Mom called for me as it was time to leave. Grandpa escorted us till the railway station, the situation in the train even while returning was the same, scattered in beginning and united again. Suddenly mom proposed to get down at some station and go to the lake for some boating and visiting the fun-fair, I was too bored to say yes, but my cousin was too excited and the whole plan depended on my affirmance. My mean mind said no, he got upset, suddenly the saint in me exclaimed, “Let’s Go!” And we got down, walked till the lake enjoyed the crazy rides, took a Tonga-ride which seemed embarrassing yet too funny to care. Then we had some food and headed back.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I was missing dad all the time, the only time I visited that place before, was with him and I could do nothing but imagine how would the day had been in his presence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">While returning I was too tired to think of anything rational and so entertained myself with a useless fight with lovely people around me. They are too kind to tolerate me and I misuse this favor every time. Next Morning I was just reflecting on my day when I realized <b>it was simply perfect. Some disappointments, some surprises, some lovely moments with lovely family, and some fights with loved ones, some matured conversations and some childish amusement rides. Isn’t that a way to paint your life, with all the colors?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><i>Like a little child who scribbles his imaginations not bothering how will it look like? Will he receive appreciations? Will he be mocked at? He simply scribbles his imaginations and mind you those are very precious to him. The Lewis Berger tagline “Paint Your Imaginations” that’s what we need to do to keep our life simple. Why complicate it caring about opinions of people who don’t care. Let the only person judging you be the Lord in your heart, who will guide you to choose your colors. He is painting your life with you. It is just you and him. And it will surely be a Masterpiece unique of its kind. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><i>Let him choose the colors, he will consider your likes and dislikes at the same time he will consider what will suit the painting, and balancing both the things He will add beauty in every detail.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make your painting Perfect, just Paint it with God.</span></b></i><span style="font-family: Sakkal Majalla; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w7XZMwC387Y/UZh-RynYAVI/AAAAAAAAAIE/Y3DrZX7ioQU/s1600/paint-with-god.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w7XZMwC387Y/UZh-RynYAVI/AAAAAAAAAIE/Y3DrZX7ioQU/s640/paint-with-god.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="line-height: 115%;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></i></span></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-20929292428128191912013-04-24T11:14:00.002-07:002013-04-24T11:14:17.351-07:00The Hypocrisy of “I"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Malgun Gothic&quot;;">Most relationships comprise of different flavors: a little Care, a little fight, a little joy, a little happiness, a little tension but the bottom line is everything is cooked with Love. Every new dish that we taste every day is cooked on love; be it sweet <i>‘kheer’</i> of caring words or <i>‘chilly paneer’</i> of fights the fire that cooks it is <b>Love</b> and that is what is important.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Malgun Gothic&quot;;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Malgun Gothic&quot;;">The Hypocrisy of “I” is that, when we are happy and our Ego is satisfied, we see the fire of love behind every dish and appreciate the feelings; but when “I” does not get its expected Importance, the same fire of love appears to be volcano of misunderstanding. What to speak of the spicy <i>‘chilly paneer’</i> (fights) even the <i>‘kheer’</i> appears to be an expression of sarcasm.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Malgun Gothic&quot;;">There is no problem in expressing anger, irritation or frustration. We need variation in Life, imagine eating only <i>rice</i> every day or only <i>kheer</i> every day or only <i>karela </i>every day; sounds boring, isn’t it? Recently I read this quote online “To tolerate means to see things with heart and not eyes” by (forgot the author).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Malgun Gothic&quot;;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Malgun Gothic&quot;;">So expressing anger, irritation, disappointment is perfectly fine. What goes wrong is looking at the things with the <b>eye of ‘I’</b> and not feeling it with Heart. It is the <b>Hypocrisy of I</b> that does not let us see the Love and care behind anger, and we are fed up of fights, of irritation etc. etc. etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Malgun Gothic&quot;;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Malgun Gothic&quot;;">In relationships more than expecting to be understood it is important to try to understand, at the end we are together for Krishna to serve him and not serve our senses. If one fails to understand the other should try to understand, we are all bound to be conquered by our senses, it may seem irrelevant, unexpected, not right but it is very natural to behave Human because we are Human still. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Malgun Gothic&quot;;">When we think the other person is wrong there are two possibilities: one the person is actually wrong or second that it is the “I” that presents them as wrong. In either case fighting and shouting and getting angry is not the solution. Speaking to them what you think and listening to them what they are feeling will help clear the confusion.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Malgun Gothic&quot;;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Malgun Gothic&quot;;"><b>There is no one made for each other in this world, it’s just a statement to make us realize the importance of being together. We are all made for Krishna and we must try to remember this. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Malgun Gothic&quot;;">Whenever you feel frustrated the next time take time, sit back and reflect. What is important? To fight, hurt each other and get fed up of it. Or to end the fight on the cute note, forgive each other, and be happy. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Malgun Gothic&quot;;">Let not “I” make you forget “WE”. Because as Devotees we come together to Serve and Please Krishna, to help each other improve and accept each other’s short comings with Love.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Malgun Gothic&quot;;">Next time you want to shout or think someone is wrong tell yourself “it is the <b>Hypocrisy of I</b>”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Malgun Gothic&quot;;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JQTwS5Y4rK4/UXggsRLTanI/AAAAAAAAAGs/DQdH6pUR5Fs/s1600/I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JQTwS5Y4rK4/UXggsRLTanI/AAAAAAAAAGs/DQdH6pUR5Fs/s640/I.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Sakkal Majalla&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Malgun Gothic&quot;;"><br /></span></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-46053785580456255092013-04-15T01:46:00.002-07:002013-04-15T01:46:22.431-07:00Be the Best Butter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Rod; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Often we face many obstacles and Challenges in our endeavor to practice Devotional Services. Financial Obstacles, Pressures from Family and Peers, Our own instability and fear and there are many more thoughts haunt our mind all the time. It is very difficult to keep our mind Vacant, but is it a wise option to keep it occupied with worries and fears? Neither worrying reduces the Worry nor Does Fear removes the Fear, it only adds to anxiety. But we are accustomed to these kinds of Extra Curricular Activities, We make it our Prime duty to deal with the obstacles ourselves, to try and try to remove it, to keep plotting plans to be obstacle free. Let us ask ourselves, “Do we really want these obstacles out to perform our sadhna better or is it because we do not want to take efforts?” Mostly it is the latter part.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Rod; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Krishna Loves Butter; he steals away the best butter. So why not try to become that Best butter and then Offer ourselves to Krishna? But to become the Best Butter we need to be churned and churned and churned. If you are scared of this churning will you be able to become the best butter for Krsna to steal you? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Rod; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When obstacles hurdle your way, pray to Nityananda for mercy, it is the most gracious situation to take complete shelter, we are not the controllers, so lets not waste time trying to control our Lives. Instead of wasting our time trying to plan out ways to remove our obstacles, it is better to use that time planning ‘how to still serve in the existing situation’.Let the churning be, you just concentrate on becoming that sweet delicious butter. &nbsp;</span>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 16.0pt;">When the Gopis wanted to observe the Katyayani Vrata to attain Krishna as their husbands, Krishna wouldn’t let them do it. He complained to their families, he would disturb them in their pooja, steal their samagri etc etc… He always came up with excellent ways to stop them. But the Gopis hardly bothered of what this Prankster would do, they were more focused in completing the Vrata and so did they. Krishna had to finally give up. He couldn’t resist tasting the butter of their Love.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Rod; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If you get scared, worried or upset with the churning how will you ever be the Best Butter? <b>Let as many churnings come so you become the softest most delicious butter for krsna to resist. Smile when next time you face any obstacle, Krsna is challenging you, and he loves to be defeated. Soon he will Steal the Butter of Your Love.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-57710295509304791032013-04-07T10:30:00.001-07:002013-04-07T10:33:29.818-07:00A look at the mirror<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><br /><br />I had once read somewhere <b><i>"Behavior is the mirror in which everyone shows their image."</i></b> It was a good line to read then but realised its meaning tonight.<br /><br />Realised how the snake of anger raises its fangs when the ego is pricked.Like a mirror our Life reflects back what we think into it, When I saw my behaviour reflecting my thoughts I can't express how disgusted I am to see them.Believe me it isn't a beautiful sight.<br /><br />In the fantasy world of praises and appreciations an encounter with reality revealed the mirror image of my heart, this mirror was nothing else but my own rude and angry behaviour. By Krishna's mercy and association of Excellent devotees, I could pause for a while and reflect on my actions. I wish I had an eraser or an UNDO button, to just delete the abominable side of my actions. But instead of being sorry that I do not have any such tool, I am happy there isnt any eraser or an UNDO button in Life. Because if it was, then we would recklessly go on behaving wrong, and erasing them as and when required.<br />Krsna is smart enough to not allow any reversals, thats how we can remember our mistakes and learn from it again and again. True we are all conditioned, but if we make a conscious effort to improve on our ill habbits, Hopefully some day we can evolve as a better person. One thing that I learnt is after a dispute when we are angry, instead of finding a reason to blame the other person if we try to see our mistake Anger subsides Quickly and all we feel is humbled.<br /><br /><b><i>There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. Or Job is to reflect the Teachings of our Acharyas who have burned their Lives like a candle to enlighten us. But in order to Reflect them, we need to be a spotless mirror free from specks of Ego Pride and Anger. Only then will we be able to reflect The Love of God and the teachings of Acharyas in its pure and Beautiful Form</i></b><br /><br />Begging for Forgiveness for being a failure and Praying for mercy.<br />A Fallen Aspirant.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B8KRF5poaG8/UWGtDrCGbVI/AAAAAAAAADg/VNI7miXFHSg/s1600/mirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B8KRF5poaG8/UWGtDrCGbVI/AAAAAAAAADg/VNI7miXFHSg/s640/mirror.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081826007161598836.post-49921305091930514482013-04-06T09:47:00.003-07:002013-04-06T10:58:12.244-07:00Our Little World<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Reading through some quotes in my Collection I came across this morning, <b>"<i style="text-decoration: underline;">Even Harsh words is Violence</i>"- HH Radhanath Maharaj.</b> What kind of violence this is, no weapons but can cause the greatest injury. And many a times this kind of violence is not between strangers, but only our dear ones, whom we are supposed to be Loving.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes we experience the consequences of frustrated emotions and expectations, This experience makes us unhappy resulting in Anger, Depression, Hopelessness, Insensitivity, Envy, Confliction, Lonliness, Violence, Selfishness, Vengfulness and whats most destructive is we become UNFORGIVING.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">When few people come together as family, <b>they seek support, understanding, acceptance and above all LOVE.</b> It is very easy to support each other, help each other, understand, accept and Love each other when things are pleasing to our ego. But how many times do we make an attempt to support a person who had dejected us, to understand when someone was rude and harsh to us, to accept someone who has hurt us and to Love a person who exhibited their anger at us like an age-old enemy.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Its alright to be angry and upset with someone, but what is important is after we are done exhibiting these emotions how we get along happily forgiving each other, accepting them for what they are, and Loving them with the same zeal.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">When an ice builds up in a relationship, instead of trying to break it to pieces with the hammer of ego, it is better to melt it with the warmth of Love. Love means to understand the situation of our dear ones when they hurt you and not hurt them back.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">It may happen that when you draw the thought process of all family members on a pice of paper they will all face in different directions, but what we have to see is they are all on the Same Paper.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">When you embrace the pain it is bound to change. When you offer Love to others despite their behaviour they are bound to Love you back with even more intesity than they might have hurt you.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Love and Forgiveness is the only way to fill the cracks created by Ego.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The world is becoming a Trouble machine with upsetting situations arising every moment,Everyone is overridden by thoughts; that's why they have so much heartache and sorrow. It is very important to understand and forgive the troubled heart of our dear ones and make a beautiful little world- Family - full of Love with The All Loving God at its Center.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Time is running and Life is too short to complain, criticize and hold grudges instead Let us appreciate, Forgive and Love each other.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><blockquote style="border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 5px; color: grey; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 15px; text-align: start;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Anger is like a burning coal, when we hold to throw at somebody, we fail to realise we are burning our own hands.- HH Radhanath Marahaj</span></b></blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; text-align: start;" /></span><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">The beauty of Forgiveness is that it cures both the offender and the offended. The Beauty of Love is that it fills all the hearts with happiness Whether you give or receive. Because Love is God and God is Love and Love is all there is. Feel the blue boy present among us, and act only to please. Let the World Experience his Love through You.</span></div></div></div>Rasikaapriti Devidasihttps://plus.google.com/110657494531120249867noreply@blogger.com0